Migration of Bharseli people and social transformation

On 23 Mar 2013, I attended the discussion on the study paper ‘Bharseli basain sarai ra samajik ruppantaran’ (Migration of Bharseli and Social Transformation) organized by Bharseli Sewa Samaj, Lalitpur. My comments were:

The report needs analysis and synthesis

This study can lead to several in depth ethnological studies

Bharseli can institute a mini museum with the collections of Bharseli veterans’ items of pride

On the political front, now it is time to change our tone of advocacy for rights—we need to be more diplomatic and work in unison with other castes to ensure rights of people—not only of Magars or adibasi  janajati

Magar Sangh must work with some set goals and strategic plans

What Magars can do for Nepal?

Magars and other communities must keep in mind that national interests are always ahead than their interests. We have to build a strong Nepal. Magars, as largest among the Janajati and Adbasi, must think of contributing to nation state building. We need to work with new policy and strategies. This is what I said in Magar Samaj Sewa Kendra's 19th Bhetghat program. Finance Minister Barshaman Pun also spoke on this issue.

Nepal Magar Sangh ko Punarsarachana

Hijo 31on Magar diwasko awsarma ayojit karyakram ma maile magar sangh ko halko sangathanik swarupma byapak sudharko awashyaktaka barema sujhav diyeko thiya. Mero sujhav anusar Magar sanghko structure Magar Mahila Sangh ra Magar Bidhyarthi Sangh ko sato objective wise political, sociocultural, economic ra educational etc..ka lagi samiti haru banainu parchha. Vision, mission ra goal prapti ka lagi jilla jilla haruma samiti harule kam garnu parchha. Parallel starma sangathan kholnuko kunai tatparya chhaina bhani sujhav diyeko thiyan. Kati karyanwayan hunchha hernu parne bisaya chha. 

Celebrating nature and culture

KATHMANDU, JAN 19 - Tanahun, a district in central Nepal, is a land of great natural and cultural beauty.
A place of religious, historical and geographical value, Tanahun has been a place where Nepalis from all communities, castes and creeds have been living harmoniously for centuries. As a pious pilgrimage destination, the district attracts numerous Hindus each year. Perhaps more importantly, Tahanun is the land where Banubhakta Acharya, the first Nepali poet was born, and is home to beautiful caves such as the Parasar, Siddhi and Hattigaura Gufas. Bandipur, a hilltop settlement in the district is particularly noted for its natural and cultural beauty, and Tanahun stands its ground as one of Nepal’s beautiful places.
With the view of promoting this district as a tourist hub whilst exploring its natural beauty and helping uplift the socio-economic conditions of its locals, the Tanahun Federation of Nepalese Commerce and Trade as well as the Tanahun District Development Committee are orgnaising the Fourth Tanahun Mahotsav—2069 in Damauli—the district capital, from January 25-February 3. 
 “We hope to explore and expose the natural, cultural and historical value of the district of Tanahun through this festival, helping bring awareness on health, education and all other aspects of human life,” says Dev Kumar Shrestha, co-ordinator of the Tanahun Mahotsav. “We have tried doing something new with the fourth edition of this festival,” he adds. “Local farmers will be exhibiting their products at the festival, and we hope to find a better system of fixing market price values in this way. Also, helicopters will be available for chartering (at reasonable prices) for those who’d like to get a bird’s eye view of our beautiful district.”
The nine-day festival will also hose local handicrafts and agricultural products (fruits, vegetables and herbs) exhibitions. An entertaining factor will be the ‘Lok Dohori Saanjh Comeptiion’, a poetry competition, as well as the inter-school and college dance competition. What’s more, attendees will get to watch rare indigenous dances such as the kaura, ghatu, sorathi and lakehy as performed by the locals.
Another special attraction will be rafting and boating opportunities in the Seti and Madhi rivers. There will also be various photo exhibitions, as well as a packaged tour including a helicopter ride over Tanahun and paragliding opportunities. Moreover, 40 different food and handicraft stalls, all showcasing local Tanahun fare, will be set up at Damauli, giving outsiders an insight into this beautiful district.  

The Kathmandu Post, Posted on: 2013-01-20 08:42

Vijayadashami or Dashara or Dussehra or Dasain

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रुकुम, कार्तिक १३ -
तकसेराको एक गुम्बामा यहाँका बौद्ध धर्मावलम्बी र हिन्दुले सँगै दसैँ मनाएका छन् । दुवै धर्मको सम्मान गर्दै दशमीको दिनदेखि कोज्रागत पूणिर्मासम्म नाचगान र टीकाटाला गर्दै हिन्दु र बौद्ध धर्मावलम्बीले सँगै दसैँ मनाएका हुन् ।

ढोरपाटन सिकार आरक्षभित्र पर्ने ढोरपाटन गुम्बामा हिन्दु र बौद्ध धर्मावलम्बीले मान्यजनको हातबाट टीका थाप्दै नाचगानसहित दसैँ मनाएको बौद्ध भिक्षु कर्ण लामाले बताए । ५ दिनसम्म मनाइएको सामूहिक दसैँमा १ सय ५० भन्दा बढी स्थानीय हिन्दु र बौद्ध धर्मावलम्बीले दसैँ मनाएको लामाले जनाए । 'दसैँलाई आत्मीयता बाँड्ने, भाइचारा बढाउने र धार्मिक सहिष्णुता प्रदर्शन गर्ने अवसरका रूपमा मनाएका छौँ,' उनले भने, 'विजयादशमीदेखि पूणिर्मासम्म दुवै धर्मावलम्बीले सँगै नाचगानसमेत गर्‍यौँ ।' सामूहिक दसैँ मनाउँदा आपसी भ्रातृत्व र एकअर्काबीचको धार्मिक आस्थाको कदर हुने भन्दै सामूहिक दसैँ मनाइएको स्थानीयले जनाएका छन् । बौद्ध धर्मावलम्बीले अहिंसा अँगाल्ने भएकाले यसपालि सामूहिक दसैँ मनाउनेले बलि नदिएरै साकाहारी दसैँ मनाए । बुद्ध धर्मावलम्बीसँगै हिन्दुले साकाहारी दसैँ मनाएर नयाँ सन्देश दिन खोजेको लामाले जनाए ।

प्रकाशित मिति: २०६९ कार्तिक १४ ०८:५७

Vijayadashami or Dashara or Dussehra or Dasain is celebrated by people in their own way throughout Nepal despite of their caste, religion, culture and practices. Different communities have linked it with their own historical events--Hindus have linked it with the victory of good over evil; Buddhists have taken it as an occasion when king Ashoka turned into Budhhist…etc..etc..Vijayadashami is celebrated not only in Nepal but also in India and Bangladesh. This festival is known with different names in different parts of the world as: (Bengali: বিজয়াদশমী, Kannada: ವಿಜಯದಶಮಿ, Malayalam: വിജയദശമി, Marathi: विजयादशमी, Nepali: विजया दशमी, Oriya: ବିଜୟାଦଶମୀ, Tamil: விஜயதசமி, Telugu: విజయదశమి, Konkani: दसरो, Punjabi: ਦਸੇਰਾ) also known as Dashahara, Dussehra, Dashain (in Nepal), Navratri or Durgotsav is one of the most important Hindu festivals celebrated in various forms, across India, Nepal and Bangladesh.

The name Dussehra is derived from Sanskrit Dasha-hara literally means remover of ten referring to Lord Rama's victory over the ten-headed demon king Ravana.^[1] The day also marks the victory of Goddess Durga over the demons Mahishasur. The name Vijayadashami is also derived from the Sanskrit words "Vijaya-dashmi" literally meaning the victory on the dashmi (Dashmi being the tenth lunar day of the Hindu calendar month).

Read more from Wikipedia

Common good politics vs. Identity politics

Quoting The Free Dictionary, the meaning of identity is 'the set of behavioral or personal characteristics by which an individual is recognizable as a member of a group.' Similarly, identity politics is: Political attitudes or positions that focus on the concerns of social groups identified mainly on the basis of gender, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. This means that 'all politics is identity politics' as Ann Friedman argued in one of her articles in American Prospect, July 29, 2010. She argues that even Barack Obama's 'Yes we can!' slogan is an example of 'identity politics.' In our national context, the identity politics rules the roost no matter what the issue is: gender, class, community, or politics. Prof. Om Gurung, in an interview recently with My Republica, reiterated that 'identity became the focus of the movement between 1990 and 2001. However, it was soon realized that identity alone is not enough. So the Janajatis fought for identity with rights, such as right to proportional representation till 2006. But lately, with realization that such changes are not possible on the existing unitary system, the focus is on radical restructuring of the state based on identity.'

Read more:

All politics is identity politics